Molded plastic shipping container for live fowl



y 11, 1967 K. w. BROMLEY 3,330,434

MOLDED PLASTIC SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR LIVE FOWL Filed Aug. 12, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,7 TTY.

v A m m MW E Q UH QM NN mm @F 5 fi w W3 3 S A L mm KENNETH w. BROMLEY July 11, 1967 K. w. BROMLEY MOLDED PLASTIC SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR LIVE FOWL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 12, 1965 United States Patent 3,330,434 MOLDED PLASTIC SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR LIVE FOWL Kenneth W. Brornley, Hobart, Ind., assignor to General American Transportation Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 12, 1965, er. No. 479,097 12 Claims. (Cl. 220-4) The present invention relates to molded plastic shipping containers or live fowl, or the like, and particularly to such live fowl as chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, etc.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a shipping container for the purpose noted that is of strong lightweight construction and molded of synthetic organic resin so that it may be re-used a great number of times during the useful life thereof with entirely satisfactory cleaning and thorough sterilizing thereof in a simple and ready manner after each use of the shipping container.

Another object of the invention is to provide shipping containers of the character noted, wherein each such shipping container comprises complementary lower and upper sections, each of pan-like configuration, wherein a plurality of the container sections may be nested with respect to each other when the container sections are in disassembled relation, and wherein any lower container section and any upper container section may be readily assembled to produce such shipping container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shipping container of the character noted, wherein the lower and upper container sections thereof are fundamentally identical and the individual container sections are of strong and economical construction and arrangement.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular construction and arrangement of the elements of the shipping container, whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the fol lowing specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a shipping container for live fowl, or the like, embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of the shipping container, as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View of the shipping container, this view being taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is another enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View of the shipping container, this view being taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 44 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of a detail of the construction of the latch arrangement disposed between the top wall and the associated door incorporated in the shipping container, this view being taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 5-5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of a detail of the construction of the stacking arrangement incorporated in the bottom wall of the shipping container, this view being taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 66 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of a detail of the construction of the stacking arrangement incorporated in the top wall of the shipping container, this view being taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 7-7 in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the shipping container 10 there illustrated, and embodying the features of the present invention, is especially designed for use in marketing live fowl, such as chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, etc. More particularly, the shipping container 10 essen tially comprises complementary upper and lower sections 21 and 41, each of substantially pan-like configuration.

The upper container section 21 is of generally rectangular form including a rectangular top wall 22, a downwardly and outwardly directed rectangular marginal wall 23 surrounding the perimeter of the top wall 22, and an outwardly directed rectangular rim 24 surrounding the perimeter of the upper marginal wall 23, the four corners of the upper marginal wall 23 being rounded, as indicated at 25, and the four corners of the rim 24 being rounded, as indicated at 26. The top wall 22 is of sheet-like form having a number of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart ribs or corrugations 27 therein and a number of laterally extending and longitudinally spaced-apart ribs or corrugations 28 therein, the ribs 27 and 28 being disposed in intersecting relation to produce a grid-like or waflie-like pattern upon the top wall 22. The upper marginal wall 23 is of sheet-like form having a number of upstanding rectangular openings 29 formed therein and disposed in spaced-apart relation thereabout and a number of upstanding ribs or corrugations 30 formed therein and disposed in spaced-apart relation thereabout, the openings 29 and the ribs 30 being arranged in alternate positions about the upper marginal wall 23. As best shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the tops of the ribs 30 provided in the ends of the upper marginal wall 23 may join the outer ends of the longitudinal ribs 27 provided in the top wall 22 and the tops of the ribs 30 provided in the sides of the upper marginal wall 23 may join the outer ends of the lateral ribs 28 provided in the top wall 22. In the arrangement, the ribs 27 and 28 in the top wall 22 project downwardly and the ribs 30 in the upper marginal wall 23 project inwardly; whereby the ribs 27, 28 and 30 have a groove-like appearance from the exterior of the upper container section 21. The upper rim 24 has a downwardly directed channel-shaped cross-section, including inner and outer spaced-apart flanges 31 and 32, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The lower container section 41 is fundamentally of the same construction as that of the upper container section 21, as described above; whereby the lower container section 41 is of generally rectangular form including a rectangular bottom wall 42, an upwardly and outwardly directed rectangular marginal wall 43 surrounding the perimeter of the bottom wall 42, and an outwardly directed rectangular rim 44 surrounding the perimeter of the lower marginal wall 43, the four corners of the lower marginal wall 43 being rounded, as indicated at 45, and the four corners of the rim 44 being rounded, as indicated at 46. The bottom wall 42 is of sheet-like form having a number of longitudinally extending and laterally spacedapart ribs or corrugations, not shown, therein and a number of laterally extending and longitudinally spaced-apart ribs or corrugations 48 therein, the two groups of ribs mentioned being disposed in intersecting relation to produce a grid-like or wafiie-like pattern upon the bottom wall 42. The lower marginal wall 43 is of sheet-like form having a number of upstanding substantially rectangular openings 49 formed therein and disposed in spaced-apart relation thereabout and a number of upstanding ribs or corrugations 50 formed therein and disposed in spacedapart relation thereabout, the openings 49 and the ribs 50 being arranged in alternate positions about the upper marginal wall 43. As best shown in FIG. 2, the bottoms of the ribs 50 provided in the ends of the lower marginal wall 43 may join the outer ends of the longitudinal ribs provided in the bottom wall 42 and the bottoms of the ribs 50 provided in the sides of the lower marginal wall 43 may and 48 in the bottom wall 42 project upwardly and the .ribs 50 in the lower marginal wall 43 project inwardly;

whereby the ribs, not shown,'48 and 50 have a groovelike appearance from the exterior of the lower container section 41. The lower rim 44 has an upwardly directed channel-shaped cross-section, including inner and outer spaced-apart flanges 51 and 52, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The upper'rirn 24 further comprises a plurality .Of downwardly directed bosses 61 formed in the inner flange 31 and arranged in spaced-apart relation thereabout; and the lower rim 44 further comprises a plurality of upwardly directed bosses 62 formed in theinner flange 51 and arranged in spaced-apart relation thereabout; all as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The upper and lower rims 24 and 44 are congruent; whereby the upper container section 21 may be supported upon the lower container section 41 and in assembled relation therewith, when the upper rim 24 is placed over and on top of the lower rim 44. Specifically, when this assembly is produced, the

upper bosses 61 are arranged in superimposed relation with the lower bosses 62; and in order to insure proper positioning of the upper rim 24 upon the lower'rim 44, the top of each lower boss 62 has a counter-bore therein that receives the lower end of the corresponding upper boss 61, as shown in FIG. 4. In order to preserve the assembly of the container sections 21 and 41, a plurality of screws 63 are removably arranged in aligned openings respectively formed through the upper and lower rims 24 and 44 and through the upper and lower bosses 61 and 62. Each screw 63 is retained in place by a cooperating nut 64. Of course, the removal of the screws 63 permits separation of the container sections 21 and 41 and the consequent disassembly of the container 10 for a purpose more fully explained subsequently.

In the container 10, the arrangement of the ribs 27 and 28 in the top wall 22 lends substantial rigidity thereto, and the arrangement of the ribs, not shown, and 48 in the bottom wall 42 lends substantial rigidity thereto. Also the upper marginal wall 23 is rendered rigid by the ribs 30 therein, and the lower marginal wall 43 is rendered rigid by the ribs 50 therein. The cross-section 'of each of the rims 24 and 44 lends substantial rigidity thereto;

and the interfit of the rims 24 and 44 in the assembly renders the container 10 of strong construction and provides a convenient handle to facilitate ready handling of the container 10 and its contents.

7 A doorway 70 is formed in the top wall 22, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3; which doorway 70 is suitably framed by surrounding structure 71 that includes a downwardly directed surrounding ledge or lip 72. Also, a pair of grooves 73 are formed in the opposite sides of the structure 71 and a pair of grooves 74 are formed in one end of the structure 71;-which grooves 73 and 74 face upwardly as viewed from the exterior of the top wall 22.

Door structure 80 is carried by the top wall 22 and'essentially comprises a laterally extending mounting strip tions with respect to the doorway 70 due to the provision of the hinge element 83 that is of flexible construction to accommodate ready bending thereof. Also, the door body 82 carries adjacent to the lower side edges thereof a pair of downwardly projecting lips, not shown, that respectively cooperate with the pair of grooves 73 and carries adjacent to one lower end edge thereof a pair of downwardly projecting lips 86 that respectively cooperate with the pair of grooves 74.

Further, the door 80 comprises a latch arrangement 7 for restraining the same in its closed position that includes a flexible tongue 87 formed on the end thereof opposite to the hinge 83; which tongue 87 is adapted to be inserted into 'a cooperating slot formed in the adjacent end of the structure 71. In order to lend desired rigidity to the door body 82, a' plurality of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart ribs or corrugations 88 are provided therein and a plurality of laterally extending and longitudinally spaced-apart ribs or corrugations.

89 are provided therein, the ribs 88 and 89 being disposed in intersecting relation to provide a grid-like structure of wafile-like appearance from the exterior of the door body '82. The ribs 88 and 89 project downwardly from the door body 82 when the same occupies its closed position; whereby the top surface of the top Wall 22 and the top surface of the door body 82 in its closed position are' substantially coplanar, so that the top of the upper container section 21 is substantially fiat. Likewise, the bottom of the lower container section 41 is substantially flat and substantially parallel to the top of the upper container section 21.

In order to insure adequate ventilation of the container 10, a series of holes '91 are formed in the top wall 22,.

virtue of stacking facility incorporated therein. Specifically, the top wall 22 is provided with four upstanding 'pro jections 101 thereon that are arranged adjacent to the four corners thereof, as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, and the bottom wall 42 is provided with four upstanding cups 102 thereon, as best shown in'FIGS. 1, 6 and 7. The

projections 101 and the cups 102 are arranged in congruent rectangular patterns, so that when the container 10 is placed upon the top of another such container 10, the four cups 102 in the upper container 10 receive the four projections 101 on the lower'container 10, thereby effectively to interlock the two stacked containers 10 and to prevent accidental lateral displacement of the upper container 10 from the lower container 10.

When the container sections 21 and 41 are disassembled, any suitable number of the container sections 21 and 41 may be nested in each other indiscriminately V merely by inverting the upper container sections 21 and then placing the congruent basket-like container sections.

21 and 41 into each other'.' This arrangement is very advantageous in the storage and the shipment of the container sections 21 and 41 in compact nested position when the same are in knocked-down condition. Of course, the pairs of, container sections 21 and 41 may be readily assembled and disassembled, as required, employing a screw driver for the purpose screws 63.

In'the arrangement, the upper casing section 21.is of one-piece molded construction with all of the elements thereof integral with eachother and formed of synthetic organic plastic material. Similarly, the lower casing section 41 is of one-piece molded. construction with all of a the elements thereof integral witheach other and formed of synthetic organic plastic material. Likewise, the door structure is of one-piece molded construction with all of the elements thereof integral with each other and formed of synthetic organic plastic material. Preferably,

the parts 21, 41 and 80 are molded in corresponding injection steps from linear high-density polyethylene.

At this point, it is noted that linear high-density polyethylene is altogether different from fbranched lowdensity polyethylene, both as to structure and to physical of placing and removing the '7 properties. The linear high-density product may be produced by the Ziegler low-pressure polymerization process and is characterized by a specific gravity in the range 0.941 to 0.965, products having a lower specific gravity in the range 0.926 to 0.940 are referred to as mediumdensity polyethylene; and products having a still lower specific gravity in the range 0.910 to 0.925 are referred to as low-density polyethylene. Linear high-density polyethylene possesses physical properties that are ideally suited as the plastic material of which the shipping container of the present invention is molded. Specifically, linear high-density polyethylene comprises an excellent injection molding material, has a low mold shrinkage characteristic (0.02 to 0.05 in. per in.), has a high tensile strength (3,100 to 5,500 p.s.i.), has a high compressive strength (2,400 p.s.i.), has a high impact strength (1.5 to 12.0 ft./lb. per in. of notch, /2 in. X /2 in. notched bar, Izod test), has substantial hardness (D60 to D70 Shore- Rockwell), has a high resistance to heat (250 F., continuous), has a high heat distortion temperature (140 F. to 180 F., 66 p.s.i.), has a very low water absorption characteristic 0.01% per 24 hours in /8 in. thickness specimens), has a very low burning rate, has an exceedingly high resistance to sunlight, and is very resistant to weak alkalies, strong alkalies, weak acids, strong acids and organic solvents.

After each use, the container 10 may be readily cleaned and washed, either in assembled or disassembled condition, in a ready and simple manner. However, it is ordinarily desirable to disassemble the container sections 21 and 41, since this accommodates more thorough cleaning and sanitizing thereof. Moreover, the container sections are normally returned from the market to the fowl ranch in nested condition, whereby it is very convenient to wash and to sanitize the container sections prior to nesting thereof for the return shipment mentioned.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a shipping container for live fowl, or the like, that is of improved construction and arrangement, and essentially comprising upper and lower container sections, as well as a door provided in the top wall of the upper container section, wherein the three fundamental elements thereof named are respectively formed of integrally molded single masses of thermoplastic synthetic resin, such as linear high-density polyethylene.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A shipping container for live fowl, or the like; said container comprising complementary lower and upper sections, said lower container section having a substantially pan-like configuration and including a bottom wall and an upwardly directed lower marginal wall surrounding the perimeter of said bottom wall and an outwardly directed lower rim surrounding the perimeter of said lower marginal wall, said lower casing section being formed of synthetic organic resin with said bottom wall and said lower marginal wall and said lower rim molded integrally with each other, said upper casing section having a substantially pan-like configuration and including a top wall and a downwardly directed marginal wall surrounding the perimeter of said top wall and an outwardly directed upper rim surrounding the perimeter of said upper marginal wall, said upper casing section being formed of synthetic organic resin with said top wall and said upper marginal wall and said upper rim molded integrally with each other, said rims being substantially congruent, whereby said upper rim may be readily removably supported upon said lower rim, means for detachably securing together said rims when said upper rim occupies its supported position, thereby to produce an assembly of said casing sections, said lower marginal wall having a series of lower openings therein and disposed in spaced-apart relation thereabout and said upper marginal wall having a series of upper openings therein and disposed in spaced-apart relation thereabout, thereby to accommodate ventilation of the interior of said assembly, said top having a doorway formed therethrough, thereby to accommodate access to the interior of said assembly, a door cooperating with said doorway, hinge means mounting said door upon said top wall for selective movements between open and closed positions with respect to said doorway, and latch means cooperating between said top wall and said door for restraining said door in its closed position.

2. The shipping container set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said container sections is molded of highdensity polyethylene.

3. The shipping container set forth in claim 1, wherein said door is of sheet-like configuration and formed of synthetic organic resin.

4. The shipping container set forth in claim 1, wherein said latch means essentially comprises a flexible tongue carried by a marginal edge of said door and a cooperating slot formed in said top wall adjacent to a corresponding edge of said doorway, said tongue being readily insertable into said slot to restrain said door in its closed position, said door being of sheet-like configuration, said door and said tongue being formed of synthetic organic resin and molded integrally with each other.

5. The shipping container set forth in claim 1, wherein said lower rim has an upwardly facing substantially channel-shaped cross-section to lend rigidity thereto, and said upper rim has a downwardly facing substantially channel-shaped cross-section to lend rigidity thereto, whereby said rims when secured together produce a strong stiff tubular composite rim about said assembly.

6. A shipping container for five live fowl, or the like; said container comprising complementary lower and upper sections, said lower container section having a substantially pan-like configuration and including a bottom Wall and an upwardly directed lower marginal wall surrounding the perimeter of said bottom wall and an outwardly directed lower rim surrounding the perimeter of said lower marginal wall, said lower casing section being formed of synthetic organic resin with said bottom wall and said lower marginal wall and said lower rim molded integrally with each other, said upper casing section having a substantially pan-like configuration and including a top wall and a downwardly directed marginal wall surrounding the perimeter of said top wall and an outwardly directed upper rim surrounding the perimeter of said upper marginal wall, said upper casing section being formed of synthetic organic resin with said top wall and said upper marginal wall and said upper rim molded integrally with each other, said rims being substantially congruent, whereby said upper rim may be readily rernovably supported upon said lower rim, means for detachably securing together said rims when said upper rim occupies its supported position, thereby to produce an assembly of said casing sections, said lower marginal wall having a series of lower openings therein and disposed in spaced-apart relation thereabout and said upper marginal wall having a series of upper openings therein and disposed in spaced-apart relation thereabout, thereby to accommodate ventilation of the interior of said assembly, said top having a doorway formed therethrough, thereby to accommodate access to the interior of said assembly, door structure for said doorway and including a door body and a mounting strip and a flexible hinge element joining .a marginal edge of said door body to said mounting strip, means detachably securing said mounting strip to said top wall adjacent to a marginal edge of said doorway, whereby said door body is selectively movable between open and closed positions with respect to said doorway, said door structure being formed of synthetic organic resin with said door body and said mounting strip and said hinge element molded integrally with each other, and latch means cooperatingbetween said top wall and said door body for restraining said door body in its closed position. 7

V 7. A shipping container for live fowl,'or the like; said container comprising complementary lower and upper sections, said lower container section having a substantially pan-like configuration and including a bottom wall and an upwardly directed lower marginal wall surrounding the perimeter of said bottom wall and an outwardly directed lower rim surrounding the perimeter of said lower marginal wall, said lower casing section being formed of synthetic organic resin with said bottom wall and said lower marginal Wall and said lower rim molded' integrally with each other, said upper casing section having a substantially pan-like configuration and including a top wall and a downwardly directed marginal wall surrounding the perimeter of said top wall and an outwardly directed upper rim surrounding the perimeter of said'upper marginal wall, said upper casing section being formed of synthetic organic resin with said top wall and said upper marginal wall and said upper rim molded integrally with each other, said rims being substantially congruent, whereby said upper rim may be readily removably supported upon said lower rim, means for detachably securing together with said rims when said upper rim occupies its supported position, thereby to produce an assembly of said casing sections, said lower marginal wall having a series of lower openings therein and disposed in spaced-apart relation thereabout and said upper marginal wall having a series of upper openings therein and disposed in spaced-apart relation there-about, thereby to accommodate ventilation of the interior of said assembly, said top having a doorway formed therethrough, thereby to accommodate access to the interior I of said assembly, a door cooperating with said doorway,

hinge means mounting said door upon said top wall for selective movements between open and closed positions with respect to said doorway, latch means cooperating between said top wall and said door for restraining said door in its closed position, said bottom wall having a plurality of spaced-apart upwardly directed recesses formed therein, and a plurality of spaced-apart upwardly directed projections carried by said top wall, said recesses and said projections being arranged in a congruent geometric pattern, whereby two of said shipping containers may be arranged. in stacked relation with the projections carried 'upon'the top wall of the lower shipping container extending into the recesses formed in the bottom wall of V the upper shipping container, so as to prevent accidental lateral displacement of the upper shipping'container, from its stacked position upon the lower shipping container. a 8. A shipping container for live fowl, or the like; said container comprising complementary lower and, upper sections, said lower container section having a substantially pan-like configuration and including a bottom wall and an upwardly directed lower marginal wall surrounding the perimeter of said bottom wall and an outwardly directed lower rim surrounding the perimeter of said lower marginal wall, said lower casing section being formed of synthetic organic resinwith said bottom wall a and said lower marginal wall and said lower rim molded integrally with each other, said upper casing section having a substantially pan-like configuration and including "congruent, whereby said upper rim may be readily removably supported upon said lower rim, means for detachably securing together said rims when said upper an assembly of said casing sections, said lower marginal wall having a series of lower ribs therein and arranged in upstanding positions ,and disposed in spaced-apart relation thereabout so as to lend substantial rigidity to said lower marginal wall, said lower marginal wall also having a series of lower openings therein and arranged in upstanding positions and disposed in spaced-apart relation'thereabout so as to accommodate ventilation of the interior of said assembly, said lower ribs and said lower openings being in alternate adjacent positions with respect to' each other, said upper marginal wall having a series of upper ribs therein and arranged in upstanding positions and disposed in spaced-apart relation thereabout so as to lend substantial rigidity to said upper marginal wall, said upper marginalwall also having a series of upper openings therein and arranged in upstanding positions and disposed in spaced-apart relation thereabout so as to accommodate ventilation of the interior of said assembly, said upper ribs and said upper openings being in alternate adjacent positions with respect to each other, said top having -a doorway formed therethrough, thereby to accommodate access to the interior tions, said lower container section having a substantially pan-like configuration and including a rectangular bottom wall and an upwardly directed rectangular lower marginal wall surrounding the perimeter of said bottom wall and an outwardly directed rectangular lower rim surrounding the perimeter of said lower marginal wall, said lower casing section being formed of synthetic organic resin with said bottom wall and said lower marginal wall and said lower rim molded integrally with each other, said upper container section having a substantially pan-like configuration and including a rectangular top wall and a' downwardly directed rectangular upper marginal wall surrounding the perimeter of said top wall and anoutwardly directed rectangular upper rim surrounding the perimeter of said upper marginal wall, said upper casing section being formed of synthetic organic resin with said top wall and said upper marginal wall and said upper rim molded integrally with each other, said rims being substantially congruent, whereby said upper rim may be readily removably supported upon said lower rim, means for detachably securing together said rims when said upper rim occupies its supported position, thereby to produce an assembly of said casing sections, said lower marginal wall having a series of lower openings therein and disposed in spaced-apart relation thereabout and said upper marginal wall having a series of upper openings therein and disposed in spaced-apart relation thereabout, thereby i to accommodate ventilation of the interior of said assembly, said top having a doorway formed therethrough, thereby'to accommodate access to the interior of said assembly, a door cooperating with said doorway, hinge means mounting said door upon said top wall' for selective movements between'open and closed positions with re spect to said doorway, and latch means cooperating between said top wall and said door for restraining said door in its closed position.

10. A shipping container for live fowl, or the like; said container comprising complementary lower and upper sections, said lower container sections having a substantially pan-like configuration and includinga bottom wall and an upwardly directed lower marginal wall surrounding the perimeter of said bottom wallrand an outwardly directed lower rim surroundingthe perimeter of said" 'I lower marginal wall, said lower casing section being formed of synthetic organic resin with said bottom wall and said lower marginal wall and said lower rim molded integrally with each other, said bottom wall having a lower grid'work of intersecting ribs therein so as to lend substantial rigidity thereto, said upper casing section having a substantially pan-like configuration and including a top wall and a downwardly directed marginal wall surrounding the perimeter of said top wall and an outwardly directed upper rim surrounding the perimeter of said upper marginal wall, said upper casing section being formed of synthetic organic resin with said top wall and said upper marginal wall and said upper rim molded integrally with each other, said top Wall having an upper grid-work of intersecting ribs therein so as to lend substantial rigidity thereto, said rims being substantially congruent, whereby said upper rim may be readily removably supported upon said lower rim, means for detachably securing together said rims when said upper rim occupies its supported position, thereby to produce an assembly of said casing sections, said lower marginal wall having a series of lower openings therein and disposed in spaced-apart relation thereabout and said upper marginal wall having a series of upper openings therein and disposed in spaced-apart relation thereabout, thereby to accommodate ventilation of the interior of said assembly, said top having a doorway formed therethrough, thereby to accommodate access to the interior of said assembly, a door cooperating with said doorway, hinge means mounting said door upon said top wall for selective movements between open and closed positions with respect to said doorway, and latch means cooperating between said top wall and said door for restraining said door in its closed position.

11. A shipping container for live fowl, or the like; said container comprising complementary lower and upper sections, said lower container section having a substantially pan-like configuration and including a bottom wall and an upwardly directed lower marginal wall surrounding the perimeter of said bottom wall and an outwardly directed lower rim surrounding the perimeter of said lower marginal wall, said lower casing section being formed of synthetic organic resin with said bottom wall and said lower marginal wall and said lower rim molded integrally with each other, said bottom wall having a lower grid-work of intersecting ribs therein so as to lend substantial rigidity thereto, said upper casing section having a substantially pan-like configuration and including a top wall and a downwardly directed marginal wall surrounding the perimeter of said top wall and an outwardly directed upper rim surrounding the perimeter of said upper marginal wall, said upper casing section being formed of synthetic organic resin with said top wall and said upper marginal wall and said upper rim molded integrally with each other, said top wall having an upper grid-work of intersecting ribs therein so as to lend substantial rigidity thereto, said rims being substantially congruent, whereby said upper rim may be readily removably supported upon said lower rim, means for detachably securing together said rims when said upper rim occupies its supported position, thereby to produce an assembly of said casing sections, said lower marginal wall having a series of lower openings therein and disposed in spaced-apart relation thereabout and said upper marginal wall having a series of upper openings therein and disposed in spaced-apart relation thereabout, thereby to accommodate ventilation of the interior of said assembly, a door cooperating with said doorway, said door being formed of synthetic organic resin and a molded structure, said door having another gridwork of intersecting ribs therein so as to lend substantial rigidity thereto, hinge means mounting said door upon said top wall for selective movements between open and closed positions with respect to said doorway, and latch means cooperating between said top wall and said door for restraining said door in its closed position.

12. A shipping container for live fowl, or the like; said container comprising complementary lower and upper sections, said lower container section having a substantially pan-like configuration and including a bottom wall and an upwardly and outwardly directed lower marginal wall surrounding the perimeter of said bottom wall and an outwardly directed lower rim surrounding the perimeter of said lower marginal wall, said lower casing section being formed of synthetic organic resin with said bottom wall and said lower marginal Wall and said lower rim molded integrally with each other, said upper container section having a substantially pan-like configuration and including a top wall and a downwardly and outwardly directed upper marginal wall surrounding the perimeter of said top wall and an outwardly directed upper rim surrounding the perimeter of said upper marginal wall, said upper casing section being formed of synthetic organic resin with said top wall and said upper marginal wall and said upper rim molded integrally with each other, said rims being substantially congruent, whereby said upper rim may be readily removably supported upon said lower rim, means for detachably securing together said rims when said upper rim occupies its supported position, thereby to produce an assembly of said casing sections, said lower margin-a1 wall having a series of lower openings therein and disposed in spaced-apart relation thereabout and said upper marginal wall having a series of upper openings therein and disposed in spaced-apart relation thereabout, thereby to accommodate ventilation of the interior of said assembly, said top having a doorway formed therethrough, thereby to accommodate access to the interior of said assembly, a door cooperating with said doorway, hinge means mounting said door upon said top wall for selective movements between open and closed positions with respect to said doorway, and latch means cooperating between said top wall and said door for restraining said door in its closed position, said bottom and top walls being substantially congruent and said lower and upper marginal walls being substantially congruent, whereby a plurality of said lower container sections and a plurality of said upper container sections may be nested indiscriminately to produce a compact package thereof when said container sections are in disassembled relation with respect to each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,803,865 8/1957 Eijanian et al 2204 XR 2,811,768 11/1957 AXelson 220-31 X 3,217,919 11/1965 Long et al 220-97 X 3,283,915 11/1966 Maslow 220-97 X FOREIGN PATENTS 224,001 10/ 1962 Austria.

543,378 6/1922 France.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. G. E. LOWRANCE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR LIVE FOWL, OR THE LIKE; SAID CONTAINER COMPRISING COMPLEMENTARY LOWER AND UPPER SECTIONS, SAID LOWER CONTAINER SECTION HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY PAN-LIKE CONFIGURATION AND INCLUDING A BOTTOM WALL AND AN UPWARDLY DIRECTED LOWER MARGINAL WALL SURROUNDING THE PERIMETER OF SAID BOTTOM WALL AND AN OUTWARDLY DIRECTED LOWER RIM SURROUNDING THE PERIMETER OF SAID LOWER MARGINAL WALL, SAID LOWER CASING SECTION BEING FORMED OF SYNTHETIC ORGANIC RESIN WITH SAID BOTTOM WALL AND SAID LOWER MARGINAL WALL AND SAID LOWER RIM MOLDED INTEGRALLY WITH EACH OTHER, SAID UPPER CASING SECTION HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY PAN-LIKE CONFIGURATION AND INCLUDING A TOP WALL AND A DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED MARGINAL WALL SURROUDING THE PERIMETER OF SAID TOP WALL AND AN OUTWARDLY DIRECTED UPPER RIM SURROUNDING THE PERIMETER OF SAID UPPER MARGINAL WALL, SAID UPPER CASING SECTION BEING FORMED OF SYNTHETIC ORGANIC RESIN WITH THE UPPER RIM MOLDED SAID UPPER MARGINAL WALL AND SAID UPPER RIM MOLDED INTEGRALLY WITH EACH OTHER, SAID RIMS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY CONGRUENT, WHEREBY SAID UPPER RIM MAY BE READILY REMOVABLY SUPPORTED UPON SAID LOWER RIM, MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING TOGETHER SAID RIMS WHEN SAID UPPER RIM OCCUPIES ITS SUPPORTED POSITION, THEREBY TO PRODUCE AN ASSEMBLY OF SAID CASING SECTIONS, SAID LOWER MARGINAL WALL HAVING A SERIES OF LOWER OPENINGS THEREIN AND DISPOSED IN SPACED-APART RELATION THEREABOUT AND SAID UPPER MARGINAL WALL HAVING A SERIES OF UPPER OPENINGS THEREIN AND DISPOSED IN SPACED-APART RELATION THEREABOUT, THEREBY TO ACCOMMODATE VENTILATION OF THE INTERIOR OF SAID ASSEMBLY, SAID TOP HAVING A DOORWAY FORMED THERETHROUGH, THEREBY TO ACCOMMODATE ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID ASSEMBLY, A DOOR COOPERATING WIHT SAID DOORWAY, HINGE MEANS MOUNTING SAID DOOR UPON SAID TOP WALL FOR SELECTIVE MOVEMENTS BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO SAID DOORWAY, AND LATCH MEANS COOPERATING BETWEEN SAID TOP WALL AND SAID DOOR FOR RESTRAINING SAID DOOR IN ITS CLOSED POSITION. 